Alcohol infused whipped cream raises health concerns

Indianapolis – Just as regulators are fighting to take a powerful mix of caffeine and alcohol off store shelves, there is a new health concern showing up at college parties.

It looks like a can of whipped cream or a dessert topping, until you take a closer look. It is infused with alcohol.

The high octane whipped cream like topping is becoming a hit on You Tube and college campuses.

It has names like Whipped Lightning and Cream in a Canister, but packs a powerful punch at 15 percent alcohol. That’s 30 proof.

“Not only can it be ingested and does have a fair amount of alcohol per volume, about three times that found in beer, but it can also be used in combination with those adolescents who abuse nitrous oxide. So, kids who engage in what we call huffing behavior can not only get high from the nitrous oxide, but can then top it off with the product as well” said Dr. Vaught Rickert, IU Director of adolescent medicine

On top of that, it doesn’t taste like alcohol, more like a harmless treat. It is often used as a topping to shots and other alcoholic drinks.

“One of the problems relative to this particular product is because it masks the taste of alcohol. So college students do drink to excess, binge drinking on college campuses is a relatively common occurrence,” said Dr Rickert. “Thank God alcohol poisoning does not occur very frequently, but it does occur and touches families in ways they can’t possibly imagine,”

Just recently, government regulators stepped in to remove Four Loko and other drinks that include a powerful mix of alcohol and caffeine.

Alcohol infused whipped cream appeared on the market in Central Indian about six months ago. You do have to be 21 to buy it, making it more difficult for teenagers to get hold of it.

It is marketed as cream, but interestingly enough, it doesn’t require any refrigeration.